'Check your electricity bills' call from Highland MSP over alternative fuel payment to households off the gas grid
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Highlands and Islands Labour MSP is calling for all those off gas grid to check their electricity bills.
This comes after the MSP has received confirmation from the Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Graham Stuart MP, that the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) has been paid through residents’ electricity bill from February 6.
Since September, the MSP has been advocating for fair financial support to be given to those off gas grid.
However the letter does say: “A small proportion of households will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier. These households will be able to do so in the next few weeks, through a GOV.UK portal.”
The letter then says: “Government determined if a Metre Point Administration Numbers (MPAN) was eligible by taking a list of all domestic MPANs and removing those which are in on gas grid postcodes or where the local area predominantly uses electricity for heating, as defined by the most recent census in their area.”
The MSP is calling for everyone who depends on alternative fuels such as biomass, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or heating oil to check their electricity bill to ensure they are receiving payment.
Rhoda Grant MSP said: “This has been a long time coming and I want to ensure that everyone who is entitled is getting this payment as every penny helps in this cost of living crisis.
“I have a suspicion that many missed households will be in the Highlands and Islands. We already face higher energy costs so I am advising everyone to go and check their electricity bill so that no one misses out.”
The text of the full letter to Rhods Grant MSP from Graham Stuart, Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Dear Rhoda,
Thank you for your email dated 21 December addressed to the Secretary of State, regarding the Alternative Fuel Payment. I apologise for the delay in responding.
The Alternative Fuel Payment scheme will deliver £200 to households who are receiving alternative fuels such as biomass, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or heating oil, helping around 2 million off-grid households to meet their energy costs this winter.
The vast majority of eligible households will receive the payment automatically via their electricity supplier – not their alternative fuel supplier – from 6 February. Delivery mirrors the methods used to provide support under the government’s other energy bill support schemes.
Most households will not need to take any action to receive the support.
Government has identified these households not by their relationship with an alternative fuel supplier, but rather by producing a list of eligible Meter Point Administration Numbers
(MPANs) and telling electricity suppliers to pay those customers. MPANs are unique codes assigned to everyone’s electricity supply. Government determined if an MPAN was eligible by taking a list of all domestic MPANs and removing those which are in on gas grid postcodes or where the local area predominantly uses electricity for heating, as defined by the most recent Census in their area.
A small proportion of households will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier. These households will be able to do so in the next few weeks, through a GOV.UK portal which will include an overview of eligibility and what applicants need to do to apply for support.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
